The long tendons of the lower leg are often compared to springs, thought to store and release mechanical energy during running. Tendons, unlike muscles, do not consume energy during running. So, it is widely accepted that tendons will ‘save energy’ by reducing the metabolic work of the muscles during running.

Image by Huei-Ming Chai, National Taiwan University School of Physical Therapy

Linking current research to running

By Nikki Reiter

It is believed that at the highest level of running performance, running economy is the most crucial factor dictating performance. So, who better than a homogenous sample of some of the best distance runners in the world to challenge this idea? An international team of researchers published an article in the January issue of Journal of Sports Sciences, investigating the relationship between running economy and running performance in elite Kenyan distance runners. [PubMed abstract]